Overwhelmed?! EXHAUSTED?! Gone CrAzY?!

Holy Cow,

I know I have been MIA for a while and while I don't really have a good excuse, in my mind I think I do.

1st: I have totally fallen off the workout/eating right wagon and I am really disappointed in myself. Just when I had gotten started and doing well, I fell off hard! I played in a slow-pitch tournament all weekend the first weekend in August and just ate and drank whatever I felt. And I LOVED IT! I am so disappointed in myself and haven't even weighed myself. Since then I have been eating and drinking like there is no tomorrow and I know I have gained the weight back that I have worked so hard to lose!

2nd: During said slow-pitch tournament I apparently wore the wrong shoes all day and they rubbed against my toes. This led to my toenails being pulled up from the nail bed and I could hardly walk, let alone put on shoes to go to Crossfit and workout. So I haven't been and I have been missing it and regretting not going. Now that my toes are finally healed and I am able to wear shoes I want to go back. Now, where is that motivation I must find in order to go at 5:30 AM?!!! I can't find it yet since school has started.

3rd: I had to report to work on Monday and it has been a long busy week. Not only do I teach High School History I also am the head coach for the softball team. Practice started on Monday as well. With the rain we have received this week we haven't been able to get on our field once! So, Monday we did conditioning, Tuesday we hit inside (I also had open house this night), Wednesday we went and did a Crossfit workout (I ABOUT DIED!), and yesterday we practiced on the football field. Tonight we have a meet the team night and we won't be able to show too many of our drills because, well, we haven't practiced them!

4th: With school starting I have had to change my routine entirely just after getting into one. Now I must find that motivation to go at 5:30 am or right when I get home from practice most nights. Once games start though, it will be really hard to find time since we hit at 6:30 in the mornings on game days and I don't get home until after 10.

Anyway..... here are a few pics that I was able to snap while I was so busy. I am sure I forgot something.

I weighed this right before the softball tournament. (I even packed healthy food....that didn't work out too well).

When I hit my weight loss goal of 5 lbs. I got my nails done.... they lasted two weeks....I am a chewer.

My first day of school pic. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my dress from Katy Lynn Designs!

Sparkle isn't so little anymore.

First off let me start with (holy cow it's stinking August already?!!!!) When did that happen?!!

I am dedicating this post today to my wonderful sister Sparkle. Now, that's not her real name but if you know my sister this nick name fits her perfectly! Sparkle is now entering her senior year which means it was time for senior pictures. Sparkle has always been pretty from day one, but after her senior pictures (yes, I might be biased but I don't think I am) she was not just a pretty little girl anymore but a gorgeous young woman. Sparkle has been the one who was more outgoing, social and girly. I was more into sports, Nike and Adidas wind pants, and worrying whether my ponytail was perfect or not.  Sparkle is active in cheerleading, volleyball, and FFA just to name a few activities. She goes from girly and glam to country (still glam) in a few minutes. Her senior pictures reflect her love of the country and her pure beauty. Sparkle isn't quite sure what she wants to do after high school (I have heard majoring in ag. business with the possibility of coming back to farm) or where she wants to attend college. Some people (like myself) know exactly what they want to do when they "grow up" but I sure didn't know where I wanted to go until that softball scholarship came in the mail. After I ended up switching and not playing anymore, I finally knew where I wanted to go and felt right at home. So, I hope Sparkle makes the best decision for her, not where she thinks people want her to go. This year will be a hard one because Sparkle has always been the baby and I haven't really given much thought to this being the year of lasts. I have thought about graduation but it was always "It's next year", or "When she goes to college in a few years". But now it is here. I know I will be a wreck because she will no longer be my little sister in high school but a young woman in the adult world. I am sure I will have a post closer to graduation on how special that Sparkle is in my life.

So here is a sneak peek of Emma's photos which I think are absolutely amazing and are my favorites. They were taken by a lady from our hometown who does a wonderful job. I have included the link to her Facebook page at the Shooting Gallery. Make sure to comment on Sparkle's photos if you have read this on my blog.

Love you Sparkle.